County Armory, Courthouse Or Jail, Which Will Owen Leaders Choose To Address First?

Work Session Set To Discuss Topic Will Be Held September 16

by Michael Stanley Staff Writer

The former Spencer National Guard Armory building is currently in need of a great deal of repairs, beginning with a leaking roof and insufficient insulation, among other needs. (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley) It's decision time for the Owen County Board of Commissioners, though the criteria by which the three-member board will ultimately choose to use in deciding which of the three county structures — courthouse, armory building, or security center — is currently in the greatest need of structural repair remains unknown.

Perhaps commissioners George Jennings, Wiley Truesdel and Richard Foutch will choose the Owen County Courthouse, which was originally finished in 1911. The structure housing the majority of Owen County government lacks sufficient office space for some, and is running out of basement record storage space by the minute.

Maybe the county's executive officers will decide to renovate the former Spencer National Guard Armory building, a hot topic on the lips of local politicians, as well as taxpayers. The roof is currently holding up with patched repairs made a few short months ago. However, the insufficient insulation of the building leads to electrical bills in the range of $1,500 during winter months. Only two county offices — the Owen County Building Department and the Owen County Veterans Affairs Office, along with the local National Guard recruiter are housed in the building. However, others such as community corrections and the health department utilize space as storage.

The Owen County Courthouse, constructed in 1911, has seen a few patches over the years, however the nearly century-old structure could use rewiring, entrance modifications, window repairs and updated record storage. (Staff Photo by Michael Stanley) The third structure and most recently constructed, the Owen County Security Center is also in need of repairs since being built in 1987. Sheriff Chester Richardson III's 66- bed facility, housing his department could use some sprucing up with lighting improvements, added storage and cold food storage.

The Owen County Sheriff's Department is housed in the Owen County Security Center which was dedicated in March of '87.

The facility was built on the west end of Spencer, replacing the old jail that was located just a half block north of the courthouse.

On Tuesday, the commissioners heard the analysis, probable cost and financing options for phase one projects narrowed down by them and PMSI, Inc's Spike Shepler.

The four projects discussed include accessibility to the Owen County Courthouse, as well as repairs and renovations to the courthouse. Included in those repairs would be archive record storage updated in the basement, and modifications to meet current state fire code.

Repairs to the armory's exterior was on the list, along with repairs and renovations to the jail.

While the topic of county building renovations has been tossed to and from the commissioners and Owen County Council, the commissioners will hold a work session on Wednesday, September 16 beginning at 6 p.m. to discuss the next step. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on the second floor of the Owen County Courthouse in the Commissioners' Room.

On Tuesday, Shepler provided commissioners Jennings and Truesdel with updated details surrounding the projects. Shepler noted that a possible Community Focus Fund grant, administered through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs could fund accessibility improvements to the courthouse. However, the CFF grant can not be applied for until January 2010, with the county receiving word about the rewarding of the grant in the Spring of 2010. The county would be required to set aside funding for a 10-percent match, with the remaining balance payable with bond revenues, if the county council so desires.

The county would be asking for approximately $1,388,000 to update accessibility, including $350,000 for modifications to the north entrance. Around $250,000 would be used to install a new elevator, while interior stairs would near $275,000.

New restrooms on the lower level would cost around $175,000, while $75,000 will be used to modify the exterior ramp. Grant administration, demolition, an environmental review, design work and management fees total $263,000.

The courthouse's exterior renovations and archive storage modifications were lumped into another project, totaling $1,200,000.

According to Shepler's probable cost estimations, revamping the archive record storage in the courthouse would cost $110,000 to reconfigure basement spaces, while an additional $75,000 would be spent on storage systems. Separations and wire cages expenses would total $17,500.

Exterior repairs to the building would include a $275,000 total restoration of the cupola. Exterior masonry repairs are estimated at $95,000, while window repairs should total $70,000. Gutter and downspout replacements will likely total $45,000, with $25,000 spent on miscellaneous damage repairs and repairing window wells and replacing grating.

Shepler also included in the project's scope, courthouse interior health and safety modifications totaling $225,000 to eliminate deadend corridors on the third floor.

Developmental costs total $215,000, with $85,000 attributed to design fees, $55,000 for management and $75,000 for contingencies.

The estimated cost to tackle the project of improving the envelope, or exterior of the Owen County Armory is expected to cost $168,582, with $85,000 being used to replace the roof and another $7,500 for replacement of gutters and downspouts.

An additional $35,000 would be used to repair masonry and window sealing. Contingencies, management and design is estimated at $41,082.

Estimated costs to renovate the current Owen County Security Center are $1,029,000 with $150,000 towards upgrades to the OCSD's dispatch equipment and furniture. A complete upgrade is in the ballpark of $250,000.

A lighted and conditioned exterior storage unit is estimated at $75,000, while cell block security window replacement is a cost of $85,000. An additional $65,000 is set aside for security fencing for emergency evacuation. Shower stall repairs are also estimated at $65,000. Shepler also included an 800-square foot addition the current sally port for cold storage and evidence storage at a cost of $125,000.

An upgrade to meet Department Of Corrections lighting requirements are estimated at $25,000, as are interior security lock replacement. Another $20,000 is estimated to repair sliding security doors.

Shepler provided the commissioners with potential funding sources, including the CFF grant estimated at $500,000, a possible Department of Natural Resources Historic Preservation Grant totaling $50,000, while the remaining sums of $1,616,000 and $1,769,582 to be paid in the form of bonding.

Currently the county has approximately $628,000 in annual EDIT revenues available for bonding.

Shepler anticipates the total financing fees to approximate at $150,000, with $36,000 for bond council, $28,000 for local attorney fees to be paid to county attorney Richard Lorenz, underwriter's discounts of $25,000 and $25,000 in builder's risk insurance to name a few items.

Shepler also said management fees for PMSI would not exceed $150,000, while design services from Indianapolis-based Architura would not exceed$185,000. However, he also noted the combined services would be around $350,000—$15,000 more than the combined totals.

Design expenses include the cost of printing the binding documents and the cost for obtaining the State Plan Releases for the various projects.

Also included in the commissioner's packet of information was a letter to Shepler from Smith/ Roberts and Associates Engineers' Jeff Lundsford concerning a report his company did concerning the courthouse.

"The items that were brought to our attention were the deflection of the concrete beams over the first floor lobby, some cracking at the west entry, the clock tower, a cracked isolation pad in the boiler room, and water infiltration in the circuit court room," Lundsford began. "In summary, based on what we were able to see and our experience with older buildings, the structural integrity of the courthouse is good. There were few signs of settlement and the structure, where visible, showed minimal signs of cracking. This is excellent for a concrete structure that is 100 years old. The biggest issue that we saw was water infiltration. Water infiltration can cause cosmetic problems, particularly when it causes plaster to separate from concrete, which appears to have happened in some locations around the perimeter walls near the windows, especially in the stairway. Severe water infiltration, if ignored, will cause structural problems. It was not raining while we were on site and had not rained recently, so it was not possible for us to ascertain the severity of the infiltration. It is very difficult to tell where water originates when it drips into a building."